Two Tennessee lawmakers, Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville and Rep. G.A. Hardaway of Memphis, are urging state officials to take more decisive action against the growing neo-Nazi presence in Nashville. This follows a disturbing incident where a group of white supremacists harassed five young boys who were busking downtown over the weekend. Jones and Hardaway are calling for stronger measures to rebuke such hateful behavior and prevent it from spreading further in the community.
During a news conference held at the Cordell Hull legislative office building on Wednesday, Jones expressed his outrage towards the verbal attack and intimidation that was directed towards a group of young black boys who were simply trying to enjoy their summer break by playing drums. According to Jones, these boys were brilliant, beautiful, and powerful, and did not deserve to be subjected to such hateful behavior by white nationalists.
According to Jones, the recent incident was an act of intimidation that caused a setback to the progress made in history, taking us back to darker times.
Four young boys, Rontarious and Detonio Wilson aged 14 and 10, Kamond Williams aged 11, and Jaquial Forrest aged 9, are a common sight downtown. They showcase their musical talent by playing complex and remarkable drum beats on plastic buckets turned upside down.
Jones and the mother of one of the boys reported that Metro Nashville Police had escorted the children just one block away from the scene and then left them to walk home on their own.
Jones emphasized that the current situation goes beyond surface-level problems. It is a systemic issue that poses a significant threat not only to the state but also to the city. With the alarming escalation of white nationalist terror, even children have become targets. “We need to address this problem head-on and take decisive action,” Jones remarked.
According to a recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, there has been an increase in hate groups throughout Tennessee and across the United States. This disturbing trend highlights the growing issue of hate and discrimination in our society. It is important for us to recognize and address these groups and their harmful ideologies in order to promote a more inclusive and accepting community.
The Metro Council’s Minority Caucus wasted no time in responding to the incident, issuing a strong rebuke in an online statement.
According to the statement, the right to free speech is a fundamental one, but it should not be exploited by grown men to use abhorrent and racist language against children. The statement goes on to denounce any type of speech that promotes intolerance, division, or incites hatred.
During the news conference held on Wednesday, Ashton Lee, who is the mother of Forrest and a close friend of the other three boys’ mother, delivered a speech.
With tears streaming down her face, she expressed her disbelief and sadness. “This shouldn’t have happened in a city that is known for its freedom,” she said.
Upon watching the viral video of the incident on social media, Lee realized that her son and his friends were the ones being harassed. Initially, she had no idea about the situation.
She expressed, “It really saddened me deeply.”
Lee reported that the boys, who depend on busking to purchase typical items for boys their age like shoes and stylish clothing (as they bashfully admitted to the media), have refrained from playing outside since the episode.
She expressed her emotions by saying, “It evokes a certain feeling within me, but I make sure to tell my friends that not all white people are the same.” She added that her friends often feel like the world is against them, but she lets them know that this is not the case.
“It’s hurtful that no other lawmakers from Tennessee have contacted me,” she expressed.
She pleaded, “Your actions are causing harm. It’s imperative that you demonstrate compassion towards the children and brainstorm ways to assist them.”
Jones and Hardaway urged the legislative body to take necessary measures and provide satisfactory responses to the issue at hand.
Hardaway expressed her disgust and condemnation towards the video of the incident, labeling it as deplorable. She found it outrageous that grown men would resort to bullying and attempting to intimidate little children, especially in Nashville, Tennessee, in this day and age.
Expressing little surprise at the altercation, he pondered why the neo-Nazis feel so emboldened to publicly march in Tennessee without any fear of retribution.
In a call for more civil discourse, the speaker stated that the current political climate has resulted in a lot of negative and hateful conversations. He emphasized the need to reduce the vitriol and asked those who support white supremacy to be held accountable for their actions.
The gathered media was treated to a mesmerizing drum solo by the children, before they proceeded on a tour of the Capitol.
Detonio took his place at the dais, which is typically occupied by House Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and forcefully struck the ceremonial gavel. Despite his small stature, he peered over the wooden edge and implored the police to allow them to be free and for white people to stop being racist towards Black children.
Following the incident, Jones initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the children. The campaign aims to support the family in providing school supplies, school clothing, groceries, and even a drum set for the kids.
At the time of writing, the fundraiser has surpassed its goal by $2,000, reaching a total of over $10,000.
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